A photo of Adele has sparked an international debate about whether the singer’s African hairstyle and Jamaican swimsuit at a London festival was an example of Black cultural appropriation.
During the weekend, the 32-year-old posted a photo of herself on Instagram sporting a swimsuit emboldened with the Jamaican flag and her hair styled in Bantu Knots, a hairstyle popularized by Black women. The singer was participating in the annual Notting Hill Carnival, which celebrates London’s Caribbean and Black culture.
She posted the photo with the caption: “Happy what would be Notting Hill Carnival my beloved London GBJM”.
What fans and social media said about the photo
There were some immediate reactions on social media from those who found it “bizarre” and “problematic” for Adele to wear her hair in an African-inspired style and sport the Jamaican flag at the Caribbean festival.
“This officially marks all of the top white women in pop as problematic,” Twitter user and journalist Ernest Owens wrote Sunday.
If 2020 couldn't get anymore bizarre, Adele is giving us Bantu knots and cultural appropriation that nobody asked for.
— Ernest Owens (@MrErnestOwens) August 30, 2020
This officially marks all of the top white women in pop as problematic.
Hate to see it. pic.twitter.com/N9CqPqh7GX
Well from a Black perspective, it‘s absolutely NOT okay for a white/Latino girl to wear hairstyles like bantu knots, cornrows, or braids. It’s so offensive to the Black community and it makes a lot of young Black girls feel upset! #Adele #culturalappropriation
— Anthony Buchanan (@anthonyscountry) August 31, 2020
Poppycock! This humbug totally misses the spirit of Notting Hill Carnival and the tradition of “ dress up” or “ masquerade” Adele was born and raised in Tottenham she gets it more than most. Thank you Adele. Forget the Haters. https://t.co/sabpPPRtID
— David Lammy (@DavidLammy) August 31, 2020
Adele really dressed like a dancehall back up dancer saying she going to carnival and wearing Bantu knots. No one else think that’s appropriation? Or we boy cause she help us through somethings?
— Not Jerome Fitzgerald (@GrizzlyPhotog) August 31, 2020
When the discussion of canceling Adele began, there were others who came to Adele’s defense, saying the criticism of her garb and hairstyle were unnecessary.
Correct me if I’m wrong, have Adele’s grammy’s been revoked bc folks are making jokes on twitter? Does she still have a record deal? Have her record breaking albums been somehow erased? What does “cancelled” actually mean in this instance cause...I don’t see Adele being canceled
— Franchesca Ramsey (@chescaleigh) August 31, 2020
I get cultural appreciation and cultural appropriation however yall love to pick and choose which one is which and then cancel some people then close your eyes for others. That’s why I don’t think yall are gonna cancel Adele 🤣🤣🤣 but lemme face my front. pic.twitter.com/nlHH4dNNAt
— lelani santana😎 (@toto2trappy) August 31, 2020
The debate also appeared to become a war of words and opposing views among the Caribbean community, African Americans and some Africans who call England home. The sentiment for many Jamaicans and others familiar with the festival was that Adele was merely showing support for the culture. However, some Black Americans found it unacceptable for the soulful vocalist to rock such a look. The debate spilled over into the varying communities’ views of each other, some said Sunday.
There is a difference between appropriation and appreciation. Adele was raised in black culture. She’s a Tottenham girl. She has ALWAYS been for us. Notting Hill Carnival is about CELEBRATING Jamaican culture and that is exactly what she’s doing 🇯🇲
— Vas J Morgan (@VasJMorgan) August 31, 2020
I really support adele on this, she looks gorgeous, African/ American are not the spokesperson for we African and Jamaican. pic.twitter.com/UsqzIDMqM9
— My baby 🇩🇪🇳🇬 (@Dammy42681277) August 31, 2020
Dear Black Americans,
— Jay Black (@jayelliotblack) August 31, 2020
We got bigger problems than Adele, let's get back to finishing the revolution we started in the 60s.#BLM
Y’all wanna argue about Adele but not discuss the police brutality because us joking about a white woman means more to you than black lives #BlackAmericans #Jamaica #Caribbean ps, those who are talking about how we are brainwashed should really pick up a book y’all were colonized
— The Dragon (@MDragon_12) August 31, 2020
Adele has not responded to the ongoing conversation. The musician and mom rarely posts on Instagram, and just months ago, another photo of her, after a considerable weight loss, also became a trending topic.
